Addition Pinus massoniana fallen wood improved the growth of Plagiomnium acutum in a substrate cultivation

Abstract

Soilless culture has been widely used in horticultural plant production, but little research has been done on bryophyte. In this study, we selected a cultivation substrate mixed and proportioned with garden soil, granular soil, grass charcoal soil, general-purpose nutrient soil, and decomposed grade II, III, and IV fallen wood of Pinus massoniana as the raw materials of soilless substrate to investigate its effects on the growth and physiology of Plagiomnium acutum. The results showed that the total porosity, water-holding porosity, and water-holding capacity of the mixed substrate containing fallen wood of P. massoniana were significantly higher than those of other cultivated substrates. The average cover of the P. acutum was significantly and positively correlated with the substrate’s total porosity and water-holding porosity. Chlorophyll content was highly significantly and positively correlated with the water holding capacity and total nitrogen content of the substrate. Among them, VIII decomposition grade Pinus massoniana fallen log:Vgrass charcoal soil = 1:1 (SW8) substrate had the highest overall evaluation index and the best overall growth condition of P. acutum. In summary, VIII decomposition grade Pinus massoniana fallen log:Vgrass charcoal soil = 1:1 (SW8) substrate can be the best substrate for cultivation of P. acutum. The addition of P. massoniana fallen wood to the soil substrate increased the total porosity, water-holding porosity, and water-holding capacity of the substrate, which was conducive to the growth of P. acutum and the increase of chlorophyll content.